The HTTP 301 status code stands for "Moved Permanently". It is a redirection response indicating that the requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URL, and all future requests should be directed to the new location.

When is HTTP 301 Used?

  • When a website or page changes its URL permanently.
  • Used in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to ensure search engines update their links.
  • Helps users and browsers automatically redirect to the new location.

Example Scenarios

  • Website Migration – A company moves from oldsite.com to newsite.com.
  • Changing URL Structure – A page moves from /blog-post to /articles/blog-post.
  • Enforcing HTTPS – Redirecting from http://example.com to https://example.com.

Example

Client Request (Requesting an Old URL)

  
    GET /old-page HTTP/1.1
    Host: example.com

Server Response (Redirecting to a New URL)

  
    HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently
    Location: https://example.com/new-page

Summary

HTTP 301 means the requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URL, and all future requests should use the new location. It is commonly used for SEO, website migrations, and URL restructuring.